Chapter 752: Black Feather Venerable

The Kunpeng Ancestor moved with incredible speed, making it impossible for anyone to clearly discern their surroundings. Scenes flashed by in an instant, like lightning, causing dizziness even with a fleeting glance outside.

Suddenly, everyone felt the ground give way beneath them as the water sphere that had confined them vanished. They plummeted to the ground, scattering like dumplings. Fortunately, the drop wasn't high, so no one was injured, though they landed in an undignified heap.

“Why is this ground so rough?” Manggu grumbled, rubbing his backside.

“No, this isn't the ground; it's a bird's nest,” Li Haoran stated with a solemn expression. Beneath them lay a sprawling tangle of branches, each as thick as two people, harvested from an unknown tree. The nest itself was vast, stretching for a thousand li. Even if Lu Yang and the others flew with all their strength, it would take them a considerable time to reach its end.

Li Haoran's face turned grim as he recalled an ominous rumor: “I’ve heard that in ancient times, fierce birds would hunt for food to feed their young. And we, exceptional cultivators, whose spiritual power has been refined to an unparalleled degree through years of practice, are considered a potent supplement—perfect for nourishing young birds!”

Manggu gasped, then recalled his clan's ancient texts, confirming Li Haoran's words. “Our Barbarian clan has similar records,” he said. “Ancient barbarians, to raise their young, would also hunt for food. The most suitable prey were fierce beasts from ancient times whose spiritual power had been refined to an incomparable degree.”

The others stared at Manggu with strange expressions, subtly inching away from him.

Seeing the tense atmosphere, Li Haoran quickly added, “However, the situation isn't entirely hopeless. I also heard that ancient fierce birds would often pit their young against captured cultivators to train them. Typically, the young birds and the cultivators would have comparable cultivation levels. So, if we can just defeat a young bird, there's a chance we could escape.”

A gust of black wind swept through, making everyone shiver from the bone-chilling cold. Everyone looked up. The black shadow revealed its true form: an impossibly vast Kunpeng bird, its wingspan stretching for a thousand li. Its feathers were as black as ink, casting the entire nest in shadow. Its immense form then began to shrink, transforming into a human figure. The man appeared to be over fifty, with long, narrow, sunken eyes that gleamed with cold ruthlessness.

This was the Kunpeng Ancestor, Venerable Black Feather!

“I have summoned you here for an urgent inquiry. You are forbidden to lie!”

“Are you disciples of the Five Elements Sect? How is Shangguan Yu doing these days?”

Shangguan Yu, Qiu Jin'an's mother, was a cultivator at the Tribulation Transcending stage.

A stunned silence fell over the group. Their identity as Five Elements Sect disciples seemed far less secure than they had initially believed.

Seeing their silence, Venerable Black Feather frowned slightly. “You are not Five Elements Sect disciples? That can’t be right. Don’t you practice the Five Elements battle techniques? And you don't know Shangguan Yu? That’s also incorrect. I heard she frequently interacts with young cultivators like yourselves, and you all possess those wooden amulets for peace. Surely, those were given to you by her.”

The wooden amulets Venerable Black Feather referred to were tokens given to Lu Yang and the others by Shangguan Yu. During their exchange visit to the Five Elements Sect, after seeing Jianmu, Shangguan Yu had asked them to call her 'Elder Sister.' As a reward, she had taken a small branch from Jianmu, crafted it into these amulets, and presented them to the group. To this day, Lu Yang and the others still wore the amulets around their necks.

Lu Yang cautiously asked, “Senior, are you… well acquainted with Elder Sister Shangguan?”

Venerable Black Feather offered an 'of course' smile. “Back when Shangguan Yu and I were still cultivating, we met in the East Sea. I was the one who guided her through its wonders. We explored secret realms, sought immortal herbs, and overcame countless trials together. If not for Qiu Duanyao’s silver tongue, charming her heart away, we would have been married long ago! Without Qiu Duanyao, Qiu Jin'an would have been my son!”

Qiu Duanyao was Qiu Jin'an’s father and the previous Sect Master of the Five Elements Sect.

“What? She hasn't told you about me?” Venerable Black Feather asked, a hint of dissatisfaction in his voice, as he observed Lu Yang and the others' stunned expressions.

Venerable Black Feather had secretly admired Shangguan Yu for a long time but had never dared to visit her in Daxia. Hearing that Five Elements Sect disciples were in the East Sea, he personally came to invite Lu Yang and the others back, hoping to inquire about Shangguan Yu’s recent well-being. Out of concern for his reputation, he had concealed his face when extending the invitation, fearing recognition by outsiders. Venerable Black Feather had instantly seen through their disguised appearances, but it didn't matter. Since Lu Yang and the others practiced the Five Elements battle techniques and possessed the wooden amulets, they had to be Five Elements Sect disciples.

“Uh, actually, we are disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect,” Lu Yang explained awkwardly, bracing himself.

“The Dao Seeking Sect? Grand-disciples of Tang Shengyi?”

Noticing Venerable Black Feather’s expression beginning to darken, Lu Yang quickly added, “However, we have a very good relationship with Elder Sister Shangguan. She has even visited our Dao Seeking Sect as a guest, and I personally hosted her.”

At this, Venerable Black Feather’s expression brightened. “Then how is she doing lately?”

Lu Yang thought for a moment. “I’d say she seems quite happy,” he replied. This was the honest truth; among all the Tribulation Transcending cultivators Lu Yang had encountered, Shangguan Yu was by far the most lively and cheerful.

“Does she have any plans to remarry?” Venerable Black Feather asked, getting to the heart of the matter.

Lu Yang recalled Old Man Ba’s persistent, unrequited longing, and concluded that Shangguan Yu likely had no interest in him. “It seems unlikely.”

Hearing this, Venerable Black Feather hung his head, deeply disappointed. “Very well, it seems our fate has not yet fully unfolded. What transpired here must not be divulged to outsiders. Should I discover any leaks, you will surely face severe consequences!”

“Yes,” they all quickly agreed, not daring to refuse.

“However, my Kunpeng clan is not without its courtesies. Since you have come to our territory, you shall be properly hosted.”

Venerable Black Feather once again enveloped them in a sphere of water, then transformed into a colossal, black-winged Kunpeng. With a mighty roar, he burst forth from the nest and plummeted downwards.

North of the East Sea lay a forest of towering trees that grew directly from the water, their crowns reaching the clouds. Venerable Black Feather’s nest was situated atop the very highest of these trees. Below the nest was the Kunpeng clan’s dwelling. There, they witnessed a colossal Kun, accompanied by turbulent seawater and surging waves, burst through the ocean's surface. It ascended like a moving island, its fish scales shimmering with strange light as they gradually dissolved, replaced by powerful feathers, transforming it into a magnificent Peng bird that soared into the sky.

Venerable Black Feather then brought the group to the Kunpeng Clan Leader. The Kunpeng Clan Leader, seeing the Ancestor suddenly arrive with six individuals, quickly bowed. “Greetings, Ancestor,” he said.

“These six are esteemed guests of our clan. See that they are well cared for.”

“Yes, yes, yes,” the Kunpeng Clan Leader quickly affirmed, nodding profusely. He always carried out the Ancestor’s instructions diligently.

“Clan Leader Xiao?” Meng Jingzhou blurted out upon seeing the Kunpeng Clan Leader. Wasn't this the very Clan Leader Xiao who visited the Meng family for New Year’s greetings and even gave him New Year's money?

Clan Leader Xiao paused, then saw through Meng Jingzhou’s disguise, his surprise even greater than Meng Jingzhou’s. “Young Master Meng? Has your Meng family gone so far as to approach the Ancestor directly to collect a debt?!”